.....Sebelius said....state would receive “the highest available match rate available under the law” for approximately 10,500 low-income individuals who had been partly covered under an existing program....

...whether....federal government would cover 100 percent of the costs....likely to influence the LePage administration’s decision over whether to expand its Medicaid programs.....

.... may come as a surprise to those who have listened to expansion’s proponents tout the benefits of “free” federal money. The high cost also throws a wrench into State Democrats’ plan to link their support of .... LePage’s hospital repayment bill to Medicaid expansion.

Maine bill seeks ban on use of food stamps to buy sodaThe bill advanced by Gov. Paul LePage with bipartisan backing will be presented to lawmakers today. It would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to seek a waiver from the federal government to ban the use of food stamps to buy soft drinks.

....“ticket to work” proposal would direct administrators of...(TANF)... to conduct or outsource screening ... that ensure ....benefit recipients are prepared for long-term employment.

....snip
... state ....has a program to get welfare recipients into the work force. ....parents who receive welfare benefits are required to participate in....ASPIRE. ....program helps welfare recipients with job placement....

....snip
... study found that 39 percent of those losing benefits reported...work-limiting disability....more than 40 percent.... had less than a high school education.

AUGUSTA – In a surprise move, House Speaker Mark W. Eves (D-North Berwick) ordered Democrats on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee... to kill a bill from Gov. Paul R. LePage that would allow the state to exclude junk food from eligible food stamp purchases.

State House sources said Friday that Democrats’ last-minute decision to oppose the bill came after the House Speaker’s top legal adviser Alysia Melnick of Cape Elizabeth, entered the committee room and delivered marching orders for Democratic leadership.

Sources said that prior to Melnick’s involvement, the Governor’s bill seemed destined for passage, and that the decision was likely aimed at denying the governor a victory on welfare reform.

"May 11, 2013, BANGOR, Maine —....Bangor panhandler .... removed from general assistance for 120 days for failing to reveal the income....could slow the spread of panhandling..."

---the act could send shock waves throughout the state of Maine and virtually change Maine social landscape much to the surprise of many people.
People who receive any welfare or food stamps and hold sidewalks sales. Fraud?
People who receive welfare or food stamps and babysit others for a babysitting fee. Fraud?
Bottle pickers who receive welfare or food stamps,fraud?
Elderly people who receive welfare or food stamp, sometimes have small jobs like sewing,or selling a couple of dozen farm grown eggs. Fraud?

If taking in a couple of nickels and dimes makes a welfare recipient guilty of fraud, would not all of the above be guilty of fraud if they did not report the small change they took in?

This one incident of the panhandler could really open up a can of words

The panhandler in question filled out a form, and signed it. He/she stated they had no extra income, when the PD and the city knew full well he/she had been panhandling and making money.

If someone signs up for General Assistance, they are legally required to list any extra income on the application form.

I understand why Bangor did this, and I support the move. Someone who truly needs help should receive it, but they have a duty to be honest and responsible when they receive public taxdollars that were earned by other people.

Those dollars are taken via taxation from working residents, whether on the local or state level, and redistributed to the poor. We have a right to expect the programs be administered with an eye toward honesty and preventing fraud.

Bangor did this to send a message -- be honest, or you lose your General Assistance benefits for 120 days.

In some of Maine's larger cities, panhandling has become a fulltime profession. The former stigma is gone, replaced by people haggling and fighting over the "best" corners and collection spots, and plain lying about their real need for "free" money from others.

I hope other cities will do exactly the same as Bangor has done. It's way past time.

Naran wrote.. "I understand why Bangor did this, and I support the move. Someone who truly needs help should receive it, but they have a duty to be honest and responsible when they receive public taxdollars that were earned by other people.

Those dollars are taken via taxation from working residents, whether on the local or state level, and redistributed to the poor. We have a right to expect the programs be administered with an eye toward honesty and preventing fraud."

=========================

I'm not so sure I would go as far as to say that it's fraud but I suppose it could be. I would say it is certainly not being truthful and if caught lying on the form should be grounds for cancelation of benefits and possibly further discipline based on the extent of the infraction.

We have a neighbor that has been running an unlicensed daycare for over 10 years. I know this not only because it's blatantly obvious, but was actually a witness for a DHHS hearing denying the application for a license. Didn't matter to this person as she just went on as nothing ever happened just removed the sign. For some reason the postman frequently leaves the neighbor's mail in our box and subsequently I put the neighbors DHHS checks back in the box and put the flag up.

Would this be considered fraud in the minds of most hard working people? Yup!

Wonder if we are benefitting from all the taxes being paid to federal and state from that income? My Guess-Nope!

I have always thought that anyone on general assistance should be giving back to the community in some capacity. No car? Send the big yellow welfare bus to pick you up. Disability? Bus has wheelchair ramp. Need daycare? Little welfare bus follows right behind.

Meanwhile, if the Bangor GA application form says "Declare Any Other Income Here," and the applicant writes "none," or fails to cite the $400 they collected from panhandling, then, yes -- I call that fraud.

Definition of FRAUD
1
a : deceit, trickery; specifically : intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right
b : an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : trick
2
a : a person who is not what he or she pretends to be : impostor; also : one who defrauds : cheat
b : one that is not what it seems or is represented to be

I have not researched the fraud prevention page in awhile but I will do so. A few years ago, when I did, I would have had to have absolute proof that a fraud was being commited. Also, we would have to remian anonymous as the last time a complaint was made, our mailbox was completed destroyed at 2 in the morning.

Here's a different view...as a business if accept federal or state grant dollars and use that to purchase computers, furniture or other hard items I cannot sell without reporting to the fed...and since welfare recipients use taxpayer dollars to but the items originally they should report the money they received from the sale..in that respect its no different than the guys dumping water to get the return deposit..

The Democrats on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee today showed abysmal disrespect for Gov. LePage, and Maine residents.. The Governor wished to address the committee and the public at the hearing, and he was refused by the resident Democrats.

As if this would have happened, had it been former govs King or Baldacci wishing to address the committee.

I think Gov. LePage’s passion for issues facing the state’s finances are refreshing. He may tend to get angry quickly, but sometimes that’s what it takes to wake up folks that make light of serious issues. There is no time for gimmicks and shenanigans, bold changes are going to happen.

King Angus and Baldacci would have stayed at the party, that's for sure. The heck with the residents, and the DHHS budget running out of money in a couple of weeks - they would have partied instead of trying to help the state's hospitals and medical providers.